Nasopharyngeal catheters and applications of same

Abstract

A nasopharyngeal catheter for administration of oxygen and monitoring for a patient includes a first catheter having a first lumen, and a second catheter having a second lumen. The first end of the first catheter is operably connected to an oxygen source, the second end of the first catheter operably runs to the posterior oropharynx of the patient, and the first lumen is adapted for oxygen delivery. The second catheter is attached to the first catheter, and the second lumen is adapted for capnography monitoring. The nasopharyngeal catheter further includes an in-line pressure release valve placed proximate to the first end of the first catheter for monitoring pressure of a patient. The nasopharyngeal catheter may also include a pH monitoring sensor for monitoring breath and risk of gastric content translocation of a patient.

1 . A nasopharyngeal catheter for administration of oxygen and monitoring for a patient, comprising:
 a first catheter having a first end, a second end and a first lumen defined therebetween, wherein the first lumen is adapted for oxygen delivery; and   a second catheter having a first end, a second end and a second lumen defined therebetween, wherein the second catheter is attached to the first catheter, and the second lumen is adapted for capnography monitoring.   
     
     
         2 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is formed of a flexible material including silicon or a siliconized material. 
     
     
         3 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen has a size of about 10 Fr. 
     
     
         4 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first catheter is operably connected to an oxygen source, and the second end of the first catheter operably runs to the posterior oropharynx of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the second catheter is operably connected to a detector, and the second end of the second catheter is positioned in a desired distance from the second end of the first catheter. 
     
     
         6 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the desired distance is about 1 inch. 
     
     
         7 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the detector is an end-tidal capnography. 
     
     
         8 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second catheter comprises one or more sensors placed inside the second lumen for monitoring end-tidal CO 2  (ETCO2). 
     
     
         9 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an in-line pressure release valve placed proximate to the first end of the first catheter and being in fluidic communication with the first lumen. 
     
     
         10 . A system for administration of oxygen and monitoring for a patient, comprising the nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , being connectable to a nasal cannula that operably allows a turn-and-lock approach to connecting the nasopharyngeal catheter. 
     
     
         12 . A nasopharyngeal catheter for administration of oxygen and monitoring for a patient, comprising:
 a first catheter having a first end, a second end and a first lumen defined therebetween, wherein the first end of the first catheter is operably connected to an oxygen source, the second end of the first catheter operably runs to the posterior oropharynx of the patient, and the first lumen is adapted for oxygen delivery; and   an in-line pressure release valve placed proximate to the first end of the first catheter and being in fluidic communication with the first lumen.   
     
     
         13 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the first catheter has a plurality of holes defined proximal to the second end of the first catheter and being in fluidic communication with the first lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the in-line pressure release valve is a t-piece pressure release valve that operably opens if there is a buildup of a predetermined pressure in the first lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined pressure about 30 cm H 2 O. 
     
     
         16 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 12 , further comprising a pH monitoring sensor for monitoring breath and risk of gastric content translocation of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the pH monitoring sensor is placed inside the first lumen at a distance from the second end of the first catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the pH monitoring sensor is placed the second end of the first catheter. 
     
     
         19 . A system for administration of oxygen and monitoring for a patient, comprising the nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         20 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a pH monitoring sensor for monitoring breath and risk of gastric content translocation of the patient. 
     
     
         21 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the first catheter has a plurality of holes defined proximal to the second end of the first catheter and being in fluidic communication with the first lumen. 
     
     
         22 . The nasopharyngeal catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the in-line pressure release valve is a t-piece pressure release valve that operably opens if there is a buildup of a predetermined pressure in the first lumen.